Fiber cleaning



G. S. RIPPEY FIBER CLEANING Oct. 29. 1940.

Filed April 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR g b f M l/" V, (1%ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1940. G. s. RIPPEY 2,220,026

FIBER CLEAN ING Filed April 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,NYGENTOR Oct. 29,1940. G. s. RIPPEY 2,220,026

FIBER CLEANING Filed April 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTORY IATTORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,220,026 FIBER CLEANINGGeorge S. Rippey, Boston, Mass., assignor to United Fruit Company,Boston, Mass., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 12, 1939,Serial No. 267,428

23 Claims.

This invention relates to a process of preparing long vegetable fibersfor market, and more specifically to the step of stripping the desiredfibers of pulpy and other undesired material in- 6 cluded in the naturalcontent of a unit of raw vegetable matter which contains the desiredfibers.

While my invention has been found especially suitable in the preparationof manila" fiber for 10 market, the process is equally adapted for usein the treatment of similar fibers present in other types of naturalvegetable matter, for instance, sisal, ramie, and maguey, and in thetreatment of fibers generally of the class which are found in naturalleaves or stalks in substantially parallel relation and are commonlyreferred to as fibre-vascular bundles, each consisting of individualfiber-cells which overlap at their ends to form compositely a fiber ofconsiderable length.

One of the wellknown fibers of this class is manila fiber, obtained fromthe stalks of the abaca plant, cultivated extensively in thePhilippines. The nature of the abaca plant, and the distribution offibers therein, is well known to those acquainted with the industry, andreference is made to the description thereof contained in Bulletin No. 1of the Fiber Standardization Board of the Department of Agriculture andNatural Resources of the Government of the Philippine Islands, entitledThe Standard Grades of Abaca, by M. M. Saleeby, Manila, Bureau ofPrinting, 1930. As therein fully described, the commercially desirablefibers are found in the leaf sheaths which form the stalk of the plant.

The stalk is botanically known as a false stalk, because it comprises,in the fully grown plant, merely a group of overlapping crescent-shapedsheaths laid tightly one upon another over a central core. Each leafsheath contains the fibers extending substantially parallel to eachother longitudinally of the sheath along its natural exterior section.The remainder of the sheath is made up of flberless tissues, and otherfine fibers of a tensile strength weaker than that required forcommercial use, all of which must be separated or stripped from thedesired fibers in preparing them for market. This operation is known as,and will be hereinafter referred to as, the cleaning operation.

Since the grade of the fiber, and therefore, to a great extent, itsvalue, depends upon the excellence of the cleaning operation, it hasbeen evident that a method which could guarantee a uniform and excellentcleaning would be of ,inestim- 65. able value to the art. Present daycleaning operations are not uniformly satisfactory, and the amount offiber prevalent that is of lower grades entirely because of the poorquality of the cleaning operation, is considered unnecessarily high bythose interested in the welfare of the industry, 5 and results inproportionately unnecessary higher prices for the best grades.

One commonly used method of cleaning the fiber of the abaca plantinvolves a scraping operation of the exterior section of the leaf sheath11] (known as a tuxy) by passing it under a rigid blade springorweight-pressed against a fixed block. This scraping operation issatisfactory in producing excellent grade fiber, if performed uniformly,but uniform scraping requires con- 15 stant care on the part of theoperator and constant adjustment of the scraping apparatus, withresulting sacrifice in speed. Since the scraping operation is generallydone in the field with extremely crude apparatus, the required care isthe 21 exception rather than the rule, and quantities of fiber whichwould be excellent grade if properly cleaned, must be graded in inferiorclasses, due to careless or non-uniform cleaning. Additionally, thepreparation of a tuxy for the -2 cleaning step necessitates an extraoperation.

Another form of cleaning involves a mechanical beating of the leafsheath. Any such beating has the insurmountable drawbacks of tending torupture the larger fibers by too great pressure, and 3* to leave thesmaller and weaker fibers untouched, passing them along with the desiredstrong fibers although not properly cleaned. Inclusion of weak fibers inthe output, lessening the average fiber strength, is in and of itselfundesirable, and, 3 when not even properly cleaned, appreciably lowersthe quality of the yield.

A primary object of my invention is therefore a higher yield ofexcellent grade fiber from potentially excellent grade" fiber sheaths 4through utilization of a uniformly excellent cleaning operation.

My invention is directed broadly to the stripping, cleaning, orseparating of long vegetable fibers of the class described, bysubjecting the 4 surface of a unit of vegetable matter containing thefibers to the impact of a liquid stream of such force that the fibersare fully cleaned, and also, if desired, the smaller, weak,undesiredfibers, are completely stripped or broken away. In the prac- 5tice of my invention, the operation of tuxying," prerequisite to thescraping type of cleaning, is unnecessary, since the natural unitthickness can be handledtin one cleaning operation and the fibers of anentire leaf sheath may, if desired, be 5 properly cleaned in oneoperation. Likewise in cleaning in accordance with my invention, ruptureor other injury to the large fibers, en-

' filed simultaneously herewith.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a representation of a stalk of the abaca plant;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the stalk along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section of one of the individual leafsheaths shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a leaf sheath passing througha rolling mill;

Fig. 5 is a perspective diagrammatic view, with parts broken away, of amachine adapted for use in connection with the cleaning step in myprocess; and I Fig. 6 is a plan view of the operating wheel in differentposition than that shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section of a portion of the wheel in still adifferent position; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic elevation of the operating wheel.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the stalk I of the abaca plant comprises a seriesof overlapping, crescentshaped leaf sheaths 2, one of which is shown. incross-section in Fig. 3. The leaf sheaths 2 are distributed in the stalkin the fully grown plant, about a central core 3, as shown in Fig. 2.

After the plant has been cut down and the stalk cut transversely to apredetermined suitable length, I separate the desired leaf sheaths fromeach other and from the core 3, either manually, as in former practice,or in accordance with a centrifugal mechanical operation described in anapplication co-pending herewith, Serial No. 270,504, filed April 28,1939.

I next flatten each unit, preferably by passing it through a rollermill, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4. A roller pressure ofapproximately 2000 lbs. is suitable.

The cleaning step is then performed to separate and clean the individualdesired fibers which run along the natural exterior section of the unit5 from the pulpy fiberless tissue contained in the interior section ofthe natural unit. My cleaning step is performed preferably by anchoringone end of the flattened unit, and then directing a transverse stream ofwater, having a velocity head in excess of 500 lbs. per square inch,against an exposed surface, preferably the natural exterior hardsurface, of the unit, and passing the stream progressively, andpreferably in uniform progression, longitudinally of the unit and awayfrom the anchored end thereof only, while supporting the portion of theunit being operated upon against a supporting surface or baflie.

In order to permit continuous operation, I prefer to advance theflattened units, one after another in edge to edge relationship, andtransversely of the individual fibers, towards, and in a directiontransverse to, the path of movement of the impact point of a stream ofwater, which impact point has a relative cyclical movement 15 across abaiile.

An illustration of my method may be understood by reference to Figs. 5,6 and 7. Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically the operating elements ofmy machine, which includes a rotary element E having an orifice 24 inthe periphery of a block 2| and positioned radially from the axis of arotatable shaft l2, on which the wheel E is mounted, a distance forrotation in close proximity to a substantially cylindrical station arybaflle l0 co-axial with shaft l2, and forming a top surface of the frame8 of the machine. The wheel E is adapted for rotation at a constantspeed in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5 and orifice 24passes progressively at a uniform speed across baflle ill in eachrevolution of the wheel E.

As shown in Fig. 7, for convenience, orifice 24 is formed by walls ofblock 2| which are at an angle of approximately 70 to the perpendicularto the tangential plane of the baiile ill, at a particular point acrosswhich the orifice is passing. The angle of inclination of the water onthe baffie i0 is therefore approximately 20.

Such construction of the orifice directs the water onto the baffle i0 sothat it flows therealong and curvingly upwardly so that it is ejected atthe near end of the baflie III, as seen in Fig. 5, upwardly into asuitable hood 68, which directs the water to a waste line.

For the purpose of advancing the units continuously, I provide ahorizontal conveyer A, passing around a roller 10, on which thefiattened units may be placed cross-wise in edge to edge relationship,with their exterior hard surfaces disposed upwardly, and with one endthereof overhanging the conveyer. This conveyer A advances the unittowards the wheel E, so that one end passes onto an auxiliary conveyer Cadvancing in the same direction and the opposite overhanging end isgripped by a feed mechanism B, comprising any suitable endlessfrictional retaining means having a cooperating traverse in a directionsubstantially parallel to the axis of shaft i2. The feed mechanism B isadapted to grip the ends of the units successively and to advance themat a substantially continuous speed toward and beyond the path of thewheel E.

A guide 35, shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, on the wheel E, acts to urge theloose ends of the units downwardly against the baflle l0, and into asemi-circular contour, the guide including a peripheral surfacespiralling radially inwardly in a counter-clockwise direction, as seenin Figs. 5 and 8, from the orifice 24, and having a circumferentialleading edge spiralling axially towards the conveyer A and terminatingin a rod 36 extending towards and over conveyer mechanism A. The end ofrod 36 is co-axial with shaft l2 and therefore revolves about its centerin a horizontal plane spaced from the plane of conveyer A. The guide 35thus acts to direct the units downwardly between the path of the orificeand the baille I0, as they are drawn by conveyers B towards the path ofrotation of the orifice. It will be understood that as soon as the wateris turned on as the orifice commences its passage across baflle ID, thestream will pass continuously across the baffle into hood 68. The looseend of a width of fed material will therefore be straightened across thebaffle by the fiow of water, the instant the gripped end is subjected tothe impact.

Since, as shown in Fig. 6, the orifice 24 is of limited axial length, Iprefer to have my feed mechanism B advance in predetermined timedrelation with the rotation of shaft l2, so that a width of materialequal to the over-all axial length of the orifice 24 will be advanced byfeed mechanism B with each revolution of the wheel E.

In order to accommodate the continuous advance of the strips, by thefeed mechanism B during the passage of orifice 24 acrossbaiile withoutpermitting the escape of the cleaned section of the unit from beneathwheel E, I provide a follower 30, which comprises a substaning theorifice 24, as indicated by the parallel lines in Fig. 6. These teethare designed to act as a comb to hold the cleaned portion of the fibersprogressively down against the baiile I during the traverse of theorifice across the fed material. As shown in Fig. 6, the cylindricalsurface or follower 30 extends from a point just following the teeth 4|.

In order to keep the material from wrapping around or becoming entangledwith the shaft l2 after passing from beneath the path of the follower30', I provide a series of axially extending pins 42, fixed to the plate34 which act to keep the fibers away from the wheel E until they havepassed well beyond its path of rotation.

In order also to separate the material being operated on by wheel E inone revolution from that which will be subsequently operated on in thenext revolution, I mount a cutter 40, extending through guide 35 on thewheel E, which cooperates with baflle Hi to cut a width of the fedmaterial determined by the relative speeds of feed mechanism B and wheelE, with each revolution, the cutting edge being mounted substantially ina vertical plane with the leading circumferential edge of the orifice24. When these speeds are synchronized to cause the advance of a widthof material equal to the over-all axial dimension of the orifice 24 witheach revolution of shaft l2, it will be seen that cutter 40 will seversuccessive widths which will be subjected in their entirety to thestream passing from orifice 24 during the passage of the orifice acrossthe baiile in successive revolutions.

Liquid, preferably water, may be supplied to the orifice 24 in anysuitable manner. I have illustrated in Fig. 6 a construction which isdisclosed more fully in my co-pending application, filed simultaneouslyherewith, including a recess 50 in the shaft l2, connected at the buttand of shaft l2 with the block 2| by a pipe and suitable connectionsindicated at in Fig. 5. The water may be supplied to the hollow recess50 through a suitable inlet housing 52, from a pipe 55 shown in Fig. 5.

Preferably the water is supplied to the inlet 52 intermittently, so thatit will issue from the orifice 24 only during that portion of revolutionof wheel E during which orifice 24 is adjacent the baffle Hi. Thisintermittent supply may be provided by any one of several expedients,one of which is described fully in my application previously referred tofiled simultaneously herewith.

Flattened abaca leaf sheath units have been successfully and excellentlycleaned by one passage through this machine, when the water suporificewhich moves in a path having a diameter of approximately 43 inches, Ihave provided an orifice having the dimensions of 6 inches in axiallength and approximately .010 of an inch in width. The orifice 24 clearsbafile M by approximately inch, and the follower 30 clears the baiiie byabout V inch. Since the fibers run generally between .002 and .010 of aninch in diameter, it will be seen that there is no scraping action bythe orifice. My process has been performed with the units advancing at arate of 20 feet per minute, with shaft l2 and orifice 24 revolving atthe rate of 40 R. P. M.

Since, with a pressure of 2500 lbs. per square inch, and with an orificeof the dimensions given, the stream of water issuing from the orifice 24will have a velocity of approximately 600 feet per second, it will beseen that the stream of water is a continuous thin dense blade-like Jetwhich acts somewhat as a rigid transverse blade scraping the strip ofmaterial. However, since the hydraulic blade is not actually rigid, itsimpact plane varies according to the particular configuration of thesurface of the material on which it is acting, and therefore, it doesnot rupture the larger fibers. With the static and velocity head atapproximately 2500 lbs. per square inch, and with what has been termedthe angle of inclination of 20, the force of impact will be 5000 lbs.per square inch, and the normal component of that force of impact on thestrip material will be approximately 1710 lbs. This norchanged, theparticular pressure and dimensions described are merely by way ofexample. In order, however, to secure suitable cleaning, the normalcomponent of the force of impact on the fed material should be somethingin excess of approximately 1000 lbs. A suitable range for the velocityhead, which can be mentioned, is between 1500 and 3000 lbs. per squareinch, and a suitable range for the normal component of the force ofimpact on the sheath unit is between approximately 1000 lbs. and 2000lbs. Depending upon the particular pressure used a greater or lessamount of the weaker fibers will be broken by the impact and carriedaway by the water along with other pulpy material.

The conveyor mechanism B carries the units beyond the path of rotationof wheel E, and the uncleaned gripped ends may then be severed from thecleaned fibers, which are separated from one another, and which, afterdrying, are in substantially proper condition for marketing.

I claim:

1. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, thesteps which comprise separating a unit of vegetable matter containingthe desired fibers disposed substantially parallel to each other fromthe rest of the plant, substantially flattening the unit, advancing theunit in a direction transversely of the individual fibers towardsa'cutter, anchoring an end of the advancing unit, cutting apredetermined width of the anchored unit from the remainder, andsubjecting a predetermined portion of an exposed surface of theindividual cut width in uniform progression in a direction transverse tothe direction of advance and longitudinally of said fibers vidual fiberstowards a cutter, successively anchoring ends of the advancing units,successively cutting a predetermined width of material from theadvancing anchored units and successively subjecting a predeterminedportion of an exposed surface of the successive individual cut widthseach in uniform progression in a direction transverse to the directionof advance and longitudinally of said fibers away from said anchoredend, to the continuous impact of a fluid stream while progressivelysupporting each individual cut width at the successive points of impactagainst a substantially continuous stationary supporting surface.

3. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, themethod of separating and cleaning individual desired fibers from'pulpyor other undesired material included in the original content of a unitof vegetable matter containing a plurality of said fibers, whichincludes the steps of advancing the unit in a direction transversely ofthe individual fibers, anchoring ends of the individual fibers andsubjecting a predetermined portion of the exposed surface of the unitprogressively in a direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of advance, to the continuous impact of a fluid stream,thereby stripping the undesired material progressively from the fiberswhile they are anchored.

4. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, themethod of separating and cleaning individual desired fibers from pulpyor other undesired material included in the original content of a unitof vegetable matter containing a plurality of said fibers disposedsubstantially parallel to each other, which includes the steps ofadvancing the unit in a direction transversely of the individual fibers,anchoring one end of the advancing unit and subjecting a predeterminedportion of the exposed surface thereof progressively in a directiontransverse to the direction of advance and longitudinally of said unitaway from said anchored end, to the continuous impact of a fluid stream.

5. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, themethod of separating and cleaning individual desir'd fibers from pulpyor other undesired material included in the original content of units ofvegetable matter containing the fibers which includes the steps ofadvancing the units continuously in edge to edge relationship in adirection transversely of the individual fibers, anchoring ends of theadvancing units, and successively subjecting a predetermined portion ofthe exposed surface of each unit progressively in a direction transverseto the direction of advance and longitudinally of each unit away fromthe anchored end thereof only, to the continuous I impact of a fluidstream. a

6. 'In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, thesteps which comprise separating a unit of vegetable matter containingthe desired fibers from the rest of the plant, substantially flatteningthe unit, anchoring one end of the unit, advancing the flattenedanchored unit in a direction transversely of the fibers to a cutter,cutting a predetermined width of the anchored unit from the remainder,and subjecting a predetermined portion of the surface of the individualcut width to the continuous impact of a fiuid stream.

7. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, themethod of separating and cleaning individual desired fibers from pulpyor other undesired material included in the original content of a unitof vegetable matter containing a plurality of said fibers, whichincludes the steps of advancing the unit in a direction transversely ofthe individual fibers to a cutter, anchoring one end of the advancingunit, cutting a predetermined width of the anchored unit from theremainder, and subjecting an exposed surface of the cut widthprogressively to the continuous impact of a fiuid stream.

8. In the process of preparing long vegetable fibers for market, themethod of separating and cleaning individual desired fibers from pulpyor other undesired material included in the original content of a unitof vegetable matter containing a plurality of said fibers, whichincludes the steps of advancing the unit in a direction transversely ofthe individual fibers to a cutter, anchoring one end of the advancingunit, cutting a predetermined width of the anchored unit from theremainder, and subjecting an exposed surface of the cut widthprogressively in a direction transverse to the direction of advance tothe continuous impact of a fluid stream.

9. In the process of preparing vegetable fibers for market, the methodof separating and cleaning individual desired fibers from pulpy or otherundesired material included in the original content of units ofvegetable matter containing the fibers which includes the steps ofadvancing said units continuously in edge to'edge relation to a cutter,anchoring an end of the advancing units, successively cutting apredetermined width of material from the advancing anchored units, andsuccessively subjecting an exposed surface of the successive individualcut widths progressively to the action of a fluid stream.

10. In the process of preparing vegetable fibers for market, the stepswhich comprise separating units of vegetable matter containing thedesired fibers from the remainder of the plant, substantially flatteningthe units, advancing said fiattened units continuously in edge to edgerelation in a direction transversely of the individual fibers towards acutter, anchoring one end of the advancing units, successively cutting apredetermined width of material from the advancing anchored units, andsuccessively subjecting portions of the surface of the successiveindividual cut widths progressively to the continuous impact of a fluidstream.

11. In the process of preparing vegetable fibers for market, the stepswhich comprise separating units of vegetable matter containing thedesired fibers from the remainder of the plant, substantially flatteningthe units, advancing said fiattened units continuously in edge to edgerelation in a direction transversely of the individual fibers,

fibers from one another and cleaning said fibers anchoring one end ofthe advancing units, and, while the units advance at a uniform speed,successively cutting a predetermined width of material from theadvancing anchored units and successively subjecting the surface of thesuccessive individual cut widths progressively to the continuous impactof a fluid stream.

12. In the process of preparing vegetable fibers for market, the stepswhich comprise separating units of vegetable matter containing thedesired fibers from the remainder of theplant, substantially flatteningthe units, advancing said flattened units continuously in edge to edgerelation in a direction transversely of the individual fibers to acutter, anchoring one end of the advancing units, successively cutting apredetermined width of material from the advancing anchored units. andsuccessively subjecting the surface of the successive individual widthsas they are cut, progressively to the continuous impact of a fiuidstream.

13. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step of subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jet of fluidhaving a velocity head at the point of impact on the unit in excess of500 lbs. per square inch, while maintaining both the portions of thefibers to be cleaned and the cleaned portions of the fibers in theirnatural substantially parallel relation and supporting said unit againstthe force of impact of said jet.

14. The process of extracting long vegetable W fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step of subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jet of fiuidhaving a force of impact on the unit,

the normal component of-which is in excess of 1000 lbs., whilemaintaining the portions of the fibers to be cleaned in their naturalsubstantially parallel relation and supporting said unit against theforce of impact of said jet.

15. The process of extracting long manila fibers directly from a leafsheath unit of the abaca plant and simultaneously separating andcleaning said fibers which consists in flattening a leaf sheath unitthereof and then, while maintaining both the portions of the fibers tobe cleaned and the cleaned portions of the fibers in their naturalsubstantially parallel relation, uniformly subjecting an exposed surfaceof the flattened unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers tothe hydraulic scraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jetof liquid having a velocity head at the point of impact on the sheath ofthe order of 2000 to 3000 lbs., per square inch, while supporting saidunit against the force of impact of said jet, thereby initially freeingthe fibers from pulpy and other undesired material originally adherentthereto as part of the natural content of the unit and simultaneouslyseparating the portions of the fibers to be cleaned in their naturalsubstantially parallel relation, uniformly subjecting an exposed surfaceof the flattened unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers tothe hydraulic scraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jetof liquid having a velocity head at the point of impact on the sheath ofthe order of 2000 to 3000 lbs. per square inch, while supporting saidunit against the force of impact of said jet, thereby initially freeingthe fibers from pulpy and other undesired material originally adherentthereto as part of the natural content of the unit and simultaneouslyseparating the fibers from one another and cleaning said fibers of saidundesired material.

17. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step of subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jet of fluidhaving a velocity head at the point of impact on the unit in excess of500 lbs. per square inch, while maintaining the opposite surface of theuncleaned portion of the unit, as the unit is cleaned, against, andfixed relative to, a substantially continuous supporting surface withthe portions of the fibers to be cleaned in their natural substantiallyparallel relation, thereby supporting said unit against the force ofimpact of said jet.

18. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step-o1 subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action of a continuous thin dense blade-like jet of fluidhaving a force of impact on the unit, the normal component of which isin excess of 1000 lbs., while maintaining the opposite surface of theuncleaned portion of the unit, as the unit is cleaned, against, andfixed relative to, a substantially continuous supporting surface withthe portions of the fibers to be cleaned in their naturalsubstantiallyparallel relation, thereby supporting said unit against theforce of impact of said jet.

19. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step of subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action of acontinuous thin dense blade-like jet of fluid havinga force of impact on the unit, the normal'component of which is of theorder of 1500 to 2000 lbs., while maintaining the opposite surface ofthe uncleaned portion of the unit, as the unit is cleaned, against,

and fixed relative to, a substantially continuous supporting surfacewith the portions of the fibers to be cleaned in their naturalsubstantially parallel relation, thereby supporting said unit againstthe force of impact of said jet.

20. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the step of subjecting an exposed surface ofthe unit progressively and longitudinally of the fibers to the hydraulicscraping action ,of a continuous thin dense blade-like jet of fluidhaving a velocity at the point of impact on the unit in excess of 250ft. per second, while maintaining the opposite surface of the uncleanedportion of the unit, as the unit is cleaned, against, and fixed relativeto, a substantially continuous supporting surface with the portions ofthe fibers to be cleaned in their natural substantially parallelrelation, thereby supporting said unit against the force of impact ofsaid jet. I

21. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter contain ing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the steps of anchoring said unit, andsubjecting a predetermined portion of an exposed surface thereofprogressively in a direction away from the anchorage point only andlongitudinally of said flbers to the scraping action of a continuousthin dense blade-like jet .of fluid having a velocity head at the pointof impact on the unit in excess of 500 lbs. per square inch, whilesupporting said unit against the force of impact of said jet.

22. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the steps of anchoring said unit and subjectinga prede--v termined portion of the natural exterior surface thereofprogressively in a direction away from the anchorage point only andlongitudinally of said fibers to the scraping action of a continuousthin dense blade-like jet of fiuid having a velocity head at the pointof impact on the unit in excess of 500 lbs. per square inch, whilesupporting said unit against the force of impact of said jet.

23. The process of extracting long vegetable fibers from a unit ofvegetable matter containing a plurality of desired fibers naturallybonded to each other in substantially parallel relation in said unit,and simultaneously cleaning said fibers of pulpy or other undesiredmaterial adherent to said fibers and included in the original content ofthe unit, which includes the steps of anchoring said unit and subjectinga predetermined portion of an exposed surface thereof in uniformprogression in a direction away from the anchorage point only andlongitudinally of said fibers to the scraping action of a continuousthin dense blade-like jet of fluid having a velocity head at the pointof impact on the unit in excess of 500 lbs. per square inch, whilesupporting said unit against the force of impact of said jet.

GEORGE S. RIPPEY.

